by Emily Stembridge
Shantel Phillips, PT, DPT, OCS, physical therapist for Vanderbilt Orthopaedics, has been named Clinical Educator of the Year by the Tennessee Physical Therapy Association (TPTA).
The award is given annually to a clinical educator who has demonstrated outstanding qualities in their teaching of physical therapy (PT) and physical therapy assistant (PTA) students. The recipient goes above and beyond in their efforts to make clinical education relevant to the practice of physical therapy.
Phillips exceeded that criteria by co-developing a clinical affiliation education program for all PT and PTA students on clinical rotation at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The program’s goal was to ease any potential student nervousness and to bridge the gap between academic and clinical experiences.
Through this program and her work as a mentor in VUMC’s sports physical therapy residency program, Phillips has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to affect the professional lives of students under her guidance.
“I feel very humbled and honored to be given this award,” said Phillips. “I am passionate and dedicated to providing physical therapy students a positive clinical experience at VUMC. I hope this encourages others to develop their own clinical programs and enhance their students’ experiences.”
“Shantel is an exemplary clinician and her dedication to student and resident education is unparalleled,” said Heather Skaar, PT, director of Rehabilitation Services at VUMC. “We are lucky to have her on the orthopaedic rehab team.”
Phillips received her Doctor of Physical Therapy at Azusa Pacific University before completing a yearlong orthopaedic residency program and a yearlong movement science fellowship program at Kaiser Permanente Southern California. Phillips has practiced outpatient orthopaedics for 10 years and is a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopaedic physical therapy. Phillips’ specialties include movement analysis, re-education and neuromuscular facilitation.
